Paris -- Anti-foie gras activists paraded a cartoon duck outside the US
embassy in Paris on Thursday in a spoof bid to claim asylum for the bird in
the wake of California's ban on the controversial delicacy.

The L214
animal rights group staged the stunt to voice support for the ban on selling
or producing foie gras -- fatty liver made by force-feeding ducks or geese
with grain -- which came into force on July 1 after years of wrangling.

"We want to say bravo to California, shame on France, and thank you for
all the ducks that have been spared," said Johanne Mielcarek, spokeswoman
for the half-dozen activists present, one sporting a giant duck costume.

"Ducks are now protected in California, so our poor French duck has come
to ask for symbolic asylum," Mielcarek said.